NO. 41. — 1890.] RBBBLION DE CBYLAN. 



419 



notice and extending their favour, inspired their vassals 

 with that courage which was natural to the Portuguese, who 

 always held their king's acknowledgment a greater honour 

 than they ever did reward. 



And in this way there was a difference between that age 

 and ours ; for then the Portuguese fought valiantly for 

 success alone, but now they fight for reward ; for then they 

 fought under the eyes of their king, who was watching 

 and encouraging them, and now they seldom even get to 

 his ears, or only through the mouth-piece of his ministers, 

 who may perhaps be ill-disposed towards them or even 

 worse inclined, fearing that by recommending to the king 

 the great services of another subject they might tarnish 

 their own in his eyes, and would think it an insult if he 

 recognized he was under greater obligations to others than 

 to themselves. 



The wisdom of Philip II. made him understand these 

 difficulties. He did not trust such an important duty 

 entirely to the ordinary counsellors who assisted him, but 

 he had many confidential advisers scattered throughout his 

 dominions, who were bound by the most sacred oaths to 

 give him an exact account of the capabilities, talents, 

 services, virtues, and vices of his vassals" : for it being of the 

 greatest worth and most essential to the good of the common 

 weal for its monarch to know the subjects to whom he 

 entrusted ,his government, since personally he was not able 



* Secret Emissaries of Philip II. — Motley describes how, " ever occupied 

 with details, the monarch, from his palace in Spain, sent frequent 

 informations against the humblest individuals in the Netherlands. It is 

 curious to observe the minute reticulations of tyranny which he had begun 

 already to spin about a whole people, while cold, venomous, and patient he 

 watched his victims from the centre of his web. He forwarded particular 

 details to the Duchess and Cardinal concerning a variety of men and women, 

 sending their names, ages, personal appearance, occupations, and residence, 

 together with directions for their immediate immolation. Even the inqui- 

 sitors of Seville were set to work to increase by means of their branches or 

 agencies in the provinces the royal information on this all-important 

 subject."— Rise of the Butch Republic, chap. II. 



